Satchmo Summerfest is dedicated to the exploration and enjoyment of Louis Armstrong’s music and Louis Armstrong the man. To that end, when the 12th annual festival takes over the grounds of the recently renovated Old U.S. Mint this weekend, the live jazz on two stages are only part of the presentation, which features a wealth of seminars, film screenings, a jazz Mass, dance lessons and contests.

Except for the opening reception, all events are free, with money raised by food, beverage and merchandise sales.

For years, New Orleans did little to celebrate its most famous native son and the consensus greatest jazz musician of all time. Except for Armstrong Park, there was little public acknowledgment of his ties to the city where he was born, learned trumpet, and spent his formative years before moving on to Chicago and New York.

Cities and festivals around the globe marked the centennial of his mythical birth date — he claimed it was July 4, 1900 — in the summer of 2000. New Orleans remained mum.

But by the 100th anniversary of his actual birthday — Aug. 4, 1901 — his name was affixed to New Orleans’ airport, and French Quarter Festivals Inc., the nonprofit group that also produces the French Quarter Festival and Christmas in New Orleans, had launched Satchmo Summerfest to affirm his Big Easy pedigree.

The event has grown in stature ever since.

Two outdoor stages at the Mint feature live jazz on Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 8 p.m. On Saturday, catch pianist Jesse McBride & the Next Generation, Japanese trumpeter and Summerfest favorite Yoshio Toyama & the Dixie Saints, the Treme Funktet featuring Corey Henry and Travis Hill, the New Orleans Moonshiners and the Stooges Brass Band, among others.

What:Celebration of the work and music of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, with seminars, traditional and contemporary jazz and brass brand performances, as well as food and children’s activities. Highlights include a Sunday 10 a.m. jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church in Treme and the annual ‘Trumpet Tribute’ that closes the festival Sunday.

Where: Inside and around the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave. at Decatur Street.

When: Friday, Aug. 3, through Sunday, Aug. 5.

Admission: Most events are free, except the opening reception and talk, which is $65.

Also, the Mint’s second floor hosts children’s activities on Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. These include Zulu coconut decorating, second-line umbrella decorating and, in honor of one of Armstrong’s favorite hobbies, collage-making.

Summerfest’s seminars speak directly to its mission. Presenters include serious Armstrong scholars and the ever-shrinking pool of people who worked with him directly. (Phoebe Jacobs, his publicist and a principal of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, which supports various initiatives in New Orleans, died April 9 at age 93.)

Friday’s sessions in the Mint’s renovated — and air-conditioned — third floor studio include a conversation with famed jazz critic and longtime Armstrong pal Dan Morgenstern; an examination of how Armstrong’s horns and mouthpieces affected his sound; a discussion of early King Oliver Creole Jazz Band recordings; and Ricky Riccardi, author of “What a Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong’s Later Years,” screening rare Armstrong television footage.

Saturday’s seminars include a chat with Stephen Maitland-Lewis, another Armstrong buddy, and an “informance” by local guitarist-banjoist Seva Venet’s band focused on the influence of New Orleans string bands and Hawaiian music on early jazz.

Indicative of Satchmo Summerfest’s status in the Armstrong universe, Universal Music has released a digital-only set of previously unavailable Armstrong recordings in conjunction with the festival. Riccardi and producer Richard Havers lead a tour of this material on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Susan Poag / The Times-PicayuneKermit Ruffins will perform Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on the Red Beans and Ricely Stage. Stick around festival-closing Trumpet Tribute and birthday party at 7:30 p.m., with Ruffins and free Buttermilk Drop Bakery cupcakes.

On Sunday, John McCusker, a jazz historian, Times-Picayune photographer and author of the forthcoming “Creole Trombone: Kid Ory & the Early Years of Jazz,” examines the relationship between Armstrong and Ory. Also on Sunday, legendary producer George Avakian shares stories and anecdotes from his many recordings with Armstrong.

Before Saturday’s panels, the Mint’s third-floor studio hosts the third “Seeking Satchmo” contest. From 10 to 11:30 a.m., local students will compete for prizes that include a new trumpet. The judges — trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, drummer Herlin Riley and trumpeter Wendell Brunious — will then sit for a panel discussion.

Off-site events include the Big Butter & Egg Man Jazz Breakfast at the Market Cafe at 1000 Decatur St., with food (for a price) and jazz on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon.

St. Augustine Church in the historic Treme neighborhood hosts its 12th annual jazz Mass on Sunday at 10 a.m., featuring the Treme Brass Band. A second-line parade from the church to Armstrong Park and the Mint follows the service.

One element missing from this year’s Summerfest weekend is the Satchmo Club Strut. The jazz-themed pub crawl was launched a decade ago to promote the Frenchmen Street entertainment district and raise money for the New Orleans Jazz Celebration, a nonprofit music education organization.

NOJC decided not to produce the Club Strut this year after a presenting sponsor could not be secured. Also, the now-bustling Frenchmen Street is no longer a secret.

Satchmo’s vast and enduring legacy, however, still rewards fresh exploration.